Pregnancy & Spider Veins
Your body goes through tons of changes during pregnancy. In addition to an expanding stomach, acne, swollen ankles and a host of other alterations, you may also have to deal with spider veins. While you may not be able to prevent them, you can minimize them, while taking comfort in the fact that they'll likely fade after delivery.
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Identification
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Spider veins are tiny reddish or bluish blood vessels that branch out like a spider web. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the American Pregnancy Association (APA), they can show up on the face, neck, legs, arms and upper chest.
Causes
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A backup of blood within the veins can cause spider veins, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Spider veins occur in pregnancy because of a very large increase in the amount of blood in the body that can cause veins to swell. The growing uterus also places pressure on veins. The hormonal changes of pregnancy are a factor, too, and sun exposure and inherited factors also may be to blame.
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Prevention
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According to the APA, you can minimize spider veins by increasing your intake of vitamin C and being careful not to cross your legs when you sit. Other prevention methods, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, include: wearing sunscreen; exercising regularly to improve circulation and leg and vein strength; keeping tabs on your weight so you don't place extra pressure on your legs; elevating your legs while resting; and avoiding standing or sitting for long periods of time (at your desk at work or on a plane, move around or take a quick walk every half-hour). You also can wear elastic support hoses (but avoid tight, constricting clothing) and eat a diet low in salt and high in fiber. If spider veins are hereditary--ask you mom if she had them while carrying you--there really is nothing you can do to completely prevent them, says the APA, but you can minimize them using the above methods.
Considerations
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Spider veins are similar to varicose veins. Varicose veins are enlarged veins that are dark purple, blue or even flesh colored. They are larger than spider veins and look like cords, says the Department of Health and Human Services; they may appear to be bulging or twisted. They usually are located on the insides of legs or backs of calves, but during pregnancy such veins can form in the vagina or around the anus--in these cases they are called hemorrhoids. You may be prone to varicose veins during pregnancy if you have a family history of them, but you can minimize or prevent them using the same methods that apply to spider veins.
Warnings
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Spider veins do not hurt and usually need no medical treatment. However, in severe cases, varicose veins can get larger and worse over time and can cause blood clots and infection. Blood clots that travel from the legs to the lungs can be deadly. If a varicose vein becomes swollen, red, tender or warm to the touch, call your doctor.
Solution
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Spider veins normally fade soon after delivery, but laser treatment is an option to remove those that don't. (Varicose veins also should improve within three months after delivery.) Laser treatments last for 15 to 20 minutes each; two to five treatments might be necessary. Laser therapy isn't practical, though, for spider veins larger than 3 millimeters. Sclerotherapy, in which a doctor "injects a solution into the vein that causes the vein walls to swell, stick together and seal shut" is another option, says the Department of Health and Human Services. The vein usually fades in a few weeks.
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